Thursday, May 28, 2009

Tips to Help Your Babysitter or Nanny Get Started

At Find A Babysitter.com.au, parents often ask us for tips about starting with a new babysitter or nanny. Here are our 10 simple tips for evening babysitting jobs:

1. House Tour: Conduct a brief tour of the house when the babysitter or nanny arrives. Include relevant door keys/locks, heating/cooling systems, baby monitor and telephone location.

2. Room Tour: Conduct a tour of the child’s room if relevant – including location of pyjamas, bedtime books/toys and nappy changing items (if required).

3. Facilities: Show your babysitter the tea, coffee, snacks, TV and bathroom facilities for the evening. Let her know what is allowed (e.g., rules for phone use, what she can eat) and not allowed (e.g., smoking, boyfriends).

4. Phone Numbers: Leave a list of phone numbers (your mobile phone, emergency contacts) and a completed ‘emergency information checklist’ (see resources on www.findababysitter.com.au)

5. Routine: Explain the steps of the bedtime routine – include the bed time, story time, tooth brushing, location of bottles, dummies and comfort toys.

6. Settling Strategies: Warn the babysitter if your child is likely to wake up during the evening. Tell her your settling strategies.

7. Cancellations: Never leave a sick child with a babysitter. Try to cancel as early as possible if you need to.

8. Timing: Tell the sitter the approximate time you expect to be home. If you are running late, call or SMS the sitter to advise her.

9. Payment: Prepare the correct change to pay the babysitter.

10. Safety: At the end of the evening, show the babysitter to her car for safety.

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